Please Read the information below from the NCSE regarding new procedures for Enrolment in Special Classes for 2025/2026

The NCSE aims to assist parents seeking a special class/school placement for their child/young person.

In the Department of Education Circular gov.ie – New measures to support the Forward Planning for Special Education Provision (www.gov.ie) it is indicated that parents seeking a special class or special school placement for their child for the coming academic year 2025/26 make contact with the NCSE.

We have set up a dedicated NCSE email address to be used by parents looking to contact us about special class/school placement.

Note: this email address is available to assist parents who have not yet engaged with their local SENO and wish to make contact with the NCSE for the first time in relation to seeking a special school/class placement for the 2025/26 school year.

If you have already made contact with your SENO and provided professional reports that may support special class/school placement for your child, there is no need to contact us via this email address.

parentsnotify@ncse.ie

is the dedicated NCSE email address you can use to make initial contact with us.

What you can expect:

1. NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will acknowledge your initial email.
2. NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will check that you have included your consent form and professional report(s).
3. When we have your consent and professional report(s) the NCSE Service Delivery Support Team will forward them to your local Regional team, who will check that they meet eligibility criteria for the placement you seek.
4. Your local SENO will make direct contact with you to discuss your child’s placement requirements and options.
5. Your local SENO will provide you with written feedback that reflects the review of your submitted documents.

Parents should not delay in making applications for special classes and special school placements to schools that have opened their admissions process for the coming year, when waiting for the NCSE to get back to you.

This new process has been developed to support schools and families and to assist the NCSE in planning for additional specialist placements. Schools have been made aware that our role is to assist with this process, whilst each school follows their own admissions policy.

Should you require assistance from your local SENO, they can be found by following this link: SENO Contact Information